The themes of life reoccur and hopefully, we as individuals, recognize them as we live day after day. The act of waking up every morning is a blessing in itself. Nothing is guaranteed in this world and if we could learn to live every day like it was our last, we could truly acknowledge the uniqueness of what it means to be alive and well. It is human nature to take many things for granted - our health and our families just to name two. Recently Arkansas Children's Hospital (ACH) lost a world-class surgeon, Dr. Jonathan Drummond-Webb. He influenced the lives of many children and their families while his true effect on our state is impossible to measure. He was the chief of pediatric and congenital cardiac surgery at ACH and was featured in a television ABC documentary in 2002 when his reputation was expanded far beyond the medical field. With a mortality rate of only 2 percent, Dr. Drummond-Webb performed hundreds of heart surgeries every year throughout his tenure at ACH.

The news of this tragedy hit home for me in two different facets. Earlier this year, my son, Caleb, who is now almost seven-months old, was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect. After an evaluation at ACH, it was determined Caleb would need to be seen again in about four or five months to create a plan of action. A valve in his heart does not operate perfectly normal, but it was considered to be mild and ACH wanted to keep an eye on it because they said it was possible he could grow out of it. We have yet to have our follow-up visit. When I heard the news of Dr. Drummond-Webb's tragic death, I knew it would've possible that if Caleb needed surgery, he might have been the surgeon to do it.

My father, who is the chief of transplantation at the University of Washington in Seattle, taught me how hard work and determination can not only help the people who live with you side by side but can touch the masses if you apply your efforts at every given opportunity.

Dr. Drummond-Webb's unselfishness and commitment to his patients is a great example of that lesson.

I have seen firsthand the rigorous hours and pressure surgeons endure as they put themselves second and their patients first. Growing up, I could tell when Dad had a rough night in the operating room, and I could also tell when he knew he saved another one. At the age of 16, in the middle of night, Dad enlightened me into what he has dedicated his life to - helping everyday people beat organ failure.

"Scott, wake up. It is time for you see how I keep you in the lifestyle you have become accustomed to," Dad said as he turned the lights on in my bedroom. Many times before as he left the house he said the same statement, but as I pried my eyes open, I sensed that I was in for a once-of-a-lifetime experience. That night I saw Dad harvest organs in Idaho and bring them back to his patients in Seattle. Surgeons perform miracles every day. While I put together a newspaper for a living, these guys save mothers, fathers, daughters and brothers day in and day out. Their mistakes can't be corrected in the next day's edition. Those circumstances breed stress many of us can't imagine.

The Arkansas community lost a heckuva a surgeon this week. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Dr. Drummond-Webb's wife and his extended family of patients. We can honor him by carrying ourselves with just a fraction of his unselfishness and dedication to others.